Ruari's Chaos

Microsoftfeed.com delivers another MVP interview….

Tell us who you are?

My name is Saifullah Shafiq. I am a SharePoint Server MVP. I am a SharePoint consultant and author. I have been writing technical programming articles/tutorials since 1999. My technical articles have been published on 62 different programming related web sites. I have also written for magazines, both paper-based and online. I am founder of SharePoint Pakistan User Group, which is the first and only SharePoint related user community in Pakistan. We started this group in 2006. Currently it has over 450 members.

Tell us about your MVP history, when were you first awarded?
I got my first MVP award in 2007. I got renewed in 2008 and 2009. It felt really good to be honored with an award. I have been doing volunteer work since 1999 but this was the first time I was recognized by the Microsoft for my community work. There were only a handful of MVPs in Pakistan in 2006. The most prominent were Saqib Ilyas, Adnan Hashmi and Hammad Rajoub.

What do you do in order to keep up with latest tools and technologies?
I read books and blogs to keep myself up to date. Technical blogs are an excellent way of keeping oneself up to date. I also attend conferences and technical events.

What does being an MVP mean to you?
It’s an honor. It keeps me motivated. Honestly speaking, it’s not easy to be an MVP. It requires lot of hard work and commitment on your part. You don’t do it for money. You do it as a passion, to help the community. Many people ask me these questions. How do you become an MVP? Is it easy? Is it difficult? I tell them it’s all hard work and your love for the community. You share your knowledge with the community. You help them by answering their technical questions. You have to spend time.

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Another great interview – check it out on Microsoftfeed.com

Ali this project is looking great – keep going!!!!

Tell us who you are?

I’m Adil Mughal. I’m Microsoft MVP for Visual C#. I’m leading two most influential User Groups in Pakistan “DevNext” and “Emerging .NET Devs”. I’m Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and participate actively in community through organizing and speaking at different events. Besides contributing in Community, I work at Development Executive at Telenor Pakistan as my full time job.

Tell us about your MVP history, when were you first awarded?
Recently in Mid 2009

What do you do in order to keep up with latest tools and technologies?
Watch webcasts, recorded sessions of several technology conferences and other events, and reading blogs of people at Microsoft and other MVPs etc.

What does being an MVP mean to you?
Being MVP is like a status in the community. People expect a lot from you when you are a MVP, they can ask any question related to Microsoft and expect a healthy response from you either it’s related to technology or certifications or troubleshooting or even some information about Microsoft. So I really need to get myself geared up as much as possible.

What do you do when you are not building software’s?
When I’m not at work, I usually spend time in learning new technologies or planning some UG events or spending time with friends/colleagues.

If you could ask Steve Ballmer one question about Microsoft, what would it be?
How ahead Microsoft Research department is, from industry?

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Directly (with permission) from www.MicrosoftFeed.com

Well done Ali, I love this MVP interview series you are embarking on – stunning…. 

Tell us who you are?
I’m Marwan Tarek, Lead Solution Specialist and MOSS MVP since 2008. I’m working with SharePoint technologies since 2005 using SharePoint 2003, 2007 and now 2010. I am also Microsoft certified professional since 2001, MCSD, MCTS and MCPD in SharePoint Services and SharePoint server development and configuration. I am also the founder of Egypt SharePoint User Group, organizer and speaker in many SharePoint events in Egypt.

Tell us about your MVP history, when were you first awarded?
I was first awarded in 2008

What do you do in order to keep up with latest tools and technologies?
Writing blog posts, delivering sessions and trainings, reading a lot of blogs.

What does being an MVP mean to you?
An active community member who is helping community on raising SharePoint technical awareness.

What do you do when you are not building software’s?
Reading, Playing Play Station.

If you could ask Steve Ballmer one question about Microsoft, what would it be?
How you see 2050 PC user?

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Some time ago I posted about the SQL MVPs pulling together to write a SQL book of which the proceeds would go to charity:

Just a quick recap:

53 SQL MVPs joined together to write an exceptional deep dive book on SQL server (SQL Server Deep Dives), each MVP chose an area he / she was most passionate about and write those chapters of the book. (more information can be found at Manning (http://www.sqlservermvpdeepdives.com/)

The authors of this book have generously donated 100% of their royalties to support War Child International.

War Child works in conflict areas around the world helping hundreds of thousands of children every year. Visit www.warchild.org for more information.

This week at SQLPass the book was unveiled and the MVPs offered themselves up for a Signing session.

Now who do you think they got to autograph a book for, none other than – well ye the title gave it away a suppose – Bill Gates, here is a picture of Gail Shaw, our very own SQL MVP from South Africa busy autographing a copy of SQL Server Deep Dive for Bill Gates. (Photograph complements of Aaron Nelson)

MVPs must be among the most passionate, soft hearted people I know, but don’t tell then I said so ;-) 

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MVP Adil Ahmed Mughal has had his article on Visual Studio 2010 published at LiveTech Pro, check it out

http://www.livetechpro.com/intellisense-improvements-in-visual-studio-2010-exciting-feature/

Thanks for the update Adil, nice going….

and the MVPs in Israel get involved hosting an MVP booth…

From November 3-6, Kevin Turner will visit Israel, Jordan, Russia and France.  The primary focus of the travel is to reinforce Microsoft’s commitment to the region and position Microsoft as an innovation leader in light of reaching major product milestones this fall. During his visit Turner will also meet with partners, customers and government elites. The press engagements for the week are as follows:

· Tuesday, in Tel Aviv, Turner will participate in a press roundtable with members from the country’s most elite publications as well as a press interview with Yediot Ahronot. 

· Wednesday, in Amman, Turner will announce a strategic partnership agreement with the government of Jordan.

· Thursday, in Moscow, during a press conference Turner will launch a new Microsoft Technology Center.

· Friday, in Paris, Turner will participate in a press interview with 01 Informatique.

More to follow soon.

Wow, many MVPs held house parties for windows 7. I was honoured to be able to attend at least one of them, what a blast, it might sound strange but GEEK parties can be a lot of fun:

Some feedback

Craig Nicolson: We had fun, doing the South African thingy – braai, and it was raining as well, but that did not put a dampener on proceedings with Windows7 dual screens, xbox360, rock band and good food and good company, we parties till the early hours.

Paul Somers:
Another South African party of note, an all day braai. (Man we love our meat) And it goes so well with Windows 7, come on people how about a braai theme?

Adil Ahmed Mughal:
here is his feedback, sounded like an awesome party, they even did a video!!!
Well it was fun and we had a great time!
http://www.adilmughal.com/2009/10/event-summary-windows-7-house-party.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAoCESdA_EY
That was really a good work by Microsoft and HouseParty.

And here is what Munir Usman  had to say

I had an amazing time at Windows 7 House Party hosted by Adil on Sunday, 25th Oct! It was a unique kind of experience where we did not only introduce and discussed Windows 7 with our techy friends but also had lots of fun by making some noise (virtually on twitter! :)) We also compared lots of Windows 7 features with Vista. Since majority of attendees were developers, we also discussed upcoming Visual studio 2010 and .net 4.0!

I am sure you already have seen this cool video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAoCESdA_EY (Yes I am a PC and I love Visual Studio :P)

and here are some pics we shared on twitter:

Group photo: http://twitpic.com/mw8be (2 MVPs, 1 MSP, 2 Tech Bloggers, and professional software developers)

Myself showing Signed copy of Windows 7 by Steve Balmer http://twitpic.com/mvf80

MSP Taimur is playing with Windows 7 http://twitpic.com/mvi2e

MVP Adil is showing goodies :) http://twitpic.com/mvp6x

Host is playing with Windows 7 http://twitpic.com/mvhph

Myself comparing Windows 7 with Vista http://twitpic.com/mvhau

Windows 7 Yay! http://twitpic.com/mgfat

Hopefully more to follow soon……

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